Bangkok governor visits new Pakklong Talat flower market

BANGKOK, June 29 (TNA) – Bangkok Governor Pol General Assawin Khwanmuang on Wednesday visited the new Paklong Talat flower market, one –year after the relocation from its original site at the Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge or the Memorial Bridge. The new central flower market is located on Prannok-Kanchanapisek Road in Taling Chan district, about seven kilometres from the old Pakklong Talat flower market in Phra Nakhon district. About 1,200 flower sellers were forced to move from the old flower market as part of a clean-up campaign by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to reclaim the pavement for pedestrians in July last year. The authorities will promote the new flower market to make to become known among local and foreign buyers, the governor said. Meanwhile, Pirom Chittakorn, representative of flower sellers at the new Pakklong Talat market said they wanted the BMA to cooperate with agencies concerned to provide more facilities for shoppers such as more buses, bus stops, a pedestrian bridge and direction signs. The new Pakklong Talat market is opened around the clock on a 50-rai area (20 acres) with 3,000 stalls available for rental without any additional fee. The market can accommodate 2,000 vehicles. As some vendors still opposed the relocation and petitioned to the prime Minister, the governor said the BMA will meet about 30 opponents to find out the solution together. He said after the eviction of street vendors at several locations in Bangkok such as Pratunam and Siam Square, they are not allowed to return to sell on the pavement at those sites. The BMA provides the new places to accommodate these vendors. (TNA)